Friday, 15 November 2013

Latest Historical Review - Regency Romance & Murder Mystery

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Reviewed by Fran

1812, England:

Annabelle Lady Marchant has seemingly acquired psychic
foresight, but is it a gift or a curse? Foresight is one thing, to fail in
predicting the course of imminent murder another, thus the sceptics have seized
the day and Annabelle is no longer the belle of London society. Nonetheless, the
widow of the deceased, undaunted by gossip, has sought Annabelle's help in
setting free a restless spirit within her Cheshire home. Her son, Rufus Earl of
Terrance, faced with the dire task of proving himself innocent of having
murdered his father, is already en route to Cheshire. So too, is
Annabelle.

The manner in which Annabelle and Rufus happen to cross paths
sets precedence for friction and future altercation, and he's damned if he'll
have the psychic witch under his roof. What is more, the earl, rightly or
wrongly, has acquired a rather unsavoury title from amidst his estate workers
and estate tenants. Steadfast in standing her ground, Annabelle determines his
behaviour as outlandish and crude, and all rather amusing when she and his
mother outsmart him. As time passes the sparks between Annabelle and Rufus
become less prone to scorching each other's pride and prejudices, and instead
fires of the heart burn with equal measure. Even as love takes hold neither is
willing to concede defeat in either of their individual quests. Spirits of the
dead are all the while revealing hidden truths with unsettling frequency, until
the villain is finally unmasked. A beastly Scandal is a delightful tale
involving murder, mystery and paranormal elements that are sometimes amusing and
often heart-rending.